diff --git a/syntaxreference.txt b/syntaxreference.txt
index 2bba841..ffe329c 100644
--- a/syntaxreference.txt
+++ b/syntaxreference.txt
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ print code.colorize("abc", 1 + 1)
 # fourth line
 }}}
 
+{{{#!cplusplus
+foo = new something(1, "soo\nice")
+}}}
+
 {{{
 plain
 multiline block
diff --git a/text_dokuwiki.py b/text_dokuwiki.py
index 956cdea..1de78c9 100644
--- a/text_dokuwiki.py
+++ b/text_dokuwiki.py
@@ -194,7 +194,17 @@ class Formatter(FormatterBase):
         return apply(FormatterBase.image, (self,), attrs) + '</img>'
 
     def code_area(self, on, code_id, code_type='code', show=0, start=-1, step=-1):
-        return ('<code>', '</code>')[not on]
+        syntax = ''
+        # switch for Python: http://simonwillison.net/2004/may/7/switch/
+        try:
+            syntax = {
+                'ColorizedPython': 'python',
+                'ColorizedCPlusPlus': 'cpp',
+            }[code_type]
+        except KeyError:
+            pass
+
+        return ('<code %s>' % syntax , '</code>')[not on]
 
     def code_line(self, on):
         return ('', '\n')[on]